Penang Monthly

Penang Monthly, by Penang Institute, is the voice of Penang, offering insights on its people, politics, economy, culture, and society, with a focus on local and national issues for curious Malaysians.

824 posts

Penang way back when... and not so long ago either

7 min read

My love affair with Penang began more than 20 years ago, when I first set foot at USM as a callow youth of 20, on the cusp of manhood and about to begin life as...

by Penang Monthly

What makes a PMC doctor?

6 min read

SHARYLJIT KAUR: Can you give us a brief background about the PMC?BRENDAN LYONS: A little before PMC was established, USM had transferred its medical school fr...

by Penang Monthly

The promise George Town's back lanes hold

6 min read

Back lanes as assetsAn improved quality of life is a key advantage of having pedestrian-friendly spaces in the city. Pedestrians tend to congregate around saf...

by Penang Monthly

Carmageddon is not inevitable

6 min read

London, 1983. I’m cycling down St John Street, a busy main road adjoining the city. Attempting to squeeze my bike alongside the cars, I tap the wing-mirro...

by Penang Monthly

Selangor remains Pakatan's stronghold

5 min read

On May 5, 2013, the people of Selangor voted resoundingly for the return of the Pakatan government. Results of the recently held 13th General Elections clearly...

by Penang Monthly

Co-working spaces – a working option for Penang

5 min read

For 20 and 30-somethings, working all day in an office cubicle is increasingly becoming an antiquated concept especially since, for a lot of people, all that...

by Penang Monthly

Is online freelancing the future?

7 min read

Azlina Abdul Jalil has always had a passion for languages. In July 2011, she got to know about Elance and decided to try her luck as a translator. It took her f...

by Penang Monthly

An independent music scene for Penang

7 min read

Backstage at IndiePG, the members of The Electric Min’z Project are trying to define what their band sounds like. Guitarist Angelo Manuel has a go at it:...

by Penang Monthly

A lean, mean, “Startup” machine

7 min read

Giovanni, one of the workshop participants, pitching his idea during the opening session."Excuse me,” Priyesh cornered a mother who was pushing a st...

by Penang Monthly

Stopping child marriage in Malaysia

9 min read

The country was rocked when the news from Sabah came in May: a 40-year-old man had been charged with raping a 12-year-old girl. That alone would have been horri...

by Penang Monthly

Rose Chan's story finally told

7 min read

There was something that set Rose Chan apart from the average striptease dancer. Beguiling as she was, she was extremely adept at controlling the men in her lif...

by Penang Monthly

A steadfast patron of the George Town Festival

3 min read

This year marked the fourth year of the George Town Festival, and it was bigger and more spectacular than before.The festival has been able to grow into what...

by Penang Monthly